Adding and Configuring Volume Discounts

Adding a Volume Discount

To add a Volume discount:

1. Click Applications > Product Management > Product Catalog. This displays the Product Catalog window.

2. Right-click on a folder and select New > Discount. This displays the New Discount window.

   

3. Select IDI Volume Discount from the Registry Type drop-down menu.

4. If you want this Volume discount to be associative, select the applicable Associative Type from the Associative Type drop-down menu, otherwise select None (default).

5. Complete the remaining fields on this window as required.

   SKU	A unique identifier used to define the product (Maximum characters = 20.)
   Description	Discount name.
   Alias	Use to link this product to the products of another system. This field can contain up to 50 characters.
   Alt Invoice Desc	Additional description that can appear on the invoice.
   Related Items Folder	The name of a folder containing related items (optional).
   	Note Available on Edit Discount. Click to view the discount configuration parameters or right-click on an existing discount and select View Configuration.
   Registry Description	Select Volume Discount or Grant Discount. For Associative Grant Discounts, select Grant Discount. The configuration wizard windows vary, depending upon the type of discount you select.
   Associative Type	Available associative types vary depending on whether Volume Discount or Grant Discount is selected in the Registry Description drop down list. There are six associative types for Volume Discounts. See Associative Discounts. When the selected Registry Description is Grant Discount: For Grant Discounts, select None. For Associative Grant Discounts, select Favorite Exact Dialed Digits.
   Display Zero Discounts on Invoice	Checked: A line item is created on the detail page, when there is no discount. Unchecked: If a discount has a zero amount, it does not appear on the invoice.
   Include Children	If checked, corporate discounting is applied. The charges of corporate children, invoice responsible or not, are included in the calculation of discounts on an invoice responsible corporate parent.
   Processing Order	Specify when the discount should be processed, in relation to all other discounts. Discounts with the highest rank (with 1 being the highest) are processed before discounts with lower ranks. For Grant discounts, other criteria for determining processing order may also be considered. See Discount Sorting Rule.
   Discount Category	The category groups discounts to be used in calculating minutes used against a discount and the remaining free minutes. This defaults to the Unassigned category, but can be changed after the discount has been saved and configured. (See also: About Discount Categories)
   Hide on Sales and Returns	If checked this item is not displayed as a line item on a POS Sale, a Return transaction, or the associated quote and/or receipt. Note This field does not affect what is displayed on the Service Agreement. The information in the Service Agreement is determined by your company's business requirements and custom development. (See also: Hiding Order Line Items in the Make Sale Wizard The Hide on Sales and Returns check box on the Add/Edit window for Contracts, Discounts, Packages, Pricing Plans, Products and Retail Products lets you hide line items from sales representatives as they process orders in the POS Make Sale Wizard. Note The location of this check box varies depending on the type of catalog item. For example, sales representatives do not need to see the Provisioning product on activation orders and should never be permitted to remove this line item from the order. The Hide on Sales and Returns check box can be used on such products to ensure this.
   Available Date	The date that the discount plan can be assigned to customers and/or services.
   Default Billing Status	Select the default Billing Status of the discount when it is assigned to an account - Billing or Not Billing.
   Is Restricted	If checked, this catalog item is restricted so that only authorized users can add the item to a POS order via the Find Catalog Items tool. See Restricting the Sale of Catalog Items.
   Category	The Product Category used to group similar items, such as accessories or handsets, for accounting purposes.
   Discontinue Date	The date that the discount plan is no longer available.
   Exclusive Group	Select the Exclusive Group to ensure that redundant discounts do not get assigned. (See also: About Mutual Exclusivity)

Other Tabs

The Notes, Attributes, Availability, and General Ledger tabs are the same as the Notes, Attributes, Availability, and General Ledger tabs for Products. See Adding Products.

1. Click Save to save the changes.

Configuring

Discounts must be configured BEFORE they can be assigned to an account or service.

Note

To determine whether or not a discount has been configured, right-click and select View Configuration. If the discount has not been configured, a message is displayed.

When you configure a volume discount you may choose to configure a loyalty discount. Loyalty discounts are set up to reward customers for staying with your company. For loyalty discounts, loyalty is the only contributing factor; therefore, you are not required to configure contributing factors. The wizard will display a series of windows for specifying eligible factors - usage types, service types, distance types, products, location, time of day, and other factors.

If you choose to configure a volume discount NOT based on loyalty, you'll need to configure contributing and eligibility factors. If the discount uses the same eligibility factors as contributing factors (for example, if your customer makes at least $50.00 in International 1+ calls, he/she will receive 10% off those calls), you'll only be required to configure contributing factors. Those contributing factors will also be applied as eligibility factors. If the contributing and eligibility factors are different (for example, if your customer makes at least $50.00 in International 1+ calls, he/she will receive 10% off his/her Domestic 1+ calls), the wizard will take you through two separate sets of windows for contributing and eligibility factors.

To configure a Volume discount:

1. Right-click on the Discount icon and select Configure. This displays the Volume Discount Wizard.

   

   Note

   The welcome message varies, depending upon the type of discount you are configuring.

2. Click Next. This displays the following window:

   

3. Select the discount type, and then click Next.

Choosing Whether or Not to Configure a Loyalty Discount

If you want to configure a loyalty discount:

1. Check the Make this a loyalty discount check box.

2. Select the appropriate option, Loyalty from customer establish date or Loyalty from discount assignment date.

   Otherwise leave the check box unchecked.

3. Click Next.

   Note

   If you are configuring a Tiered Group Discount, the Loyalty Discount wizard page is not displayed.

Contributing and Eligible Factors

From this point, the wizard takes you through a series of windows for specifying eligible and contributing factors.

If you are configuring a loyalty discount, loyalty is the only contributing factor; therefore the wizard takes you through a series of windows for specifying eligible factors. In this case, skip the Contributing and Eligible Factors window described below as it is not applicable. Continue with Usage Types.

If you are configuring a tiered group discount, the number of services is the only contributing factor; therefore the wizard takes you through a series of windows for specifying eligible factors. In this case, skip the Contributing and Eligible Factors window described below as it is not applicable.

If you are not configuring a loyalty discount or a tiered group discount, you'll need to specify one or more contributing factors, and each contributing factor may or may not be eligible. The Contributing and Eligible Factors window lets you tell the wizard whether or not eligible factors need to be considered separate from the contributing factors or whether they are the same.

If they are the same, selecting Contributing and Eligible factors are the same will cause the wizard to display the windows just once (to specify contributing factors). The IDI platform will use this information to configure eligible factors as well.

If you need to configure contributing and eligible factors, separately, selecting Contributing and Eligible factors are different will cause the wizard to run through the windows twice - once for contributing factors and once for eligible factors.

Note

When configuring a discount based on usage, you must select factors on the Usage Types, Service Types, and Distance Types windows or the discount is considered improperly configured. These selections all work together in the relationship; if selections are not made on any of the windows, the discount is considered null and void.

Usage Types

Usage Types lists the available usage types that can be used to set up your discount. You can click on a column name to change the order of the list.

1. Select the applicable usage type(s) using one of the following methods:

   • Click New All to include all usage types.

   • Enter the Usage Type ID or Name directly in the two fields at the bottom of the window.

   • Click New to display a list of usage types from which to select the ones you want to be included. Then Click the desired Usage Type from the list displayed.

     You can select more than one sequential Usage Type, by holding down the Shift key and clicking on the first item and the last item in the group you wish to add. You can select multiple Usage Types that are not sequential, by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on the individual items you want to add. You can also quickly select a Usage Type by double-clicking on it.

     For example, if you add only the International distance type to the selected column, only international calls will be totaled and discounted.

     card characters can be entered in the Name field, but they cannot be entered in the Usage Type ID field (it must be an exact match).

2. Click Next. This displays the Service Types window.

Service Types

Service Types lists the available service types that can be used to set up your discount.

1. Select the applicable service type(s). The operation of this window is basically the same as the Usage Types window described above.

2. Click Next. This displays the Distance Types window.

Distance Types

Distance Types lists the available distance types that can be used to set up your discount.

1. Select the applicable distance type(s). The operation of this window is basically the same as the Usage Types window described above.

2. Click Next. This displays the Products window.

Products

Products lists the available products that can be used to set up your discount.

1. Select the applicable product(s). The operation of this window is basically the same as the Usage Types window described above.

2. Check Allow Chargeback of discounts on in-advance and credit-on-disconnect products to calculate and bill chargebacks for in-advance products that have been discounted by the plan.

3. Check Exclude overriden product charges to exclude overriden product charges from being calculated in the discount.

4. Typically a Volume Discount will only look at contributing products on the service that the discount is assigned to. The Count contributing products across services setting lets discounts count contributing products across all services on an account. This setting has no impact on the logic for contributing product activity (eg: disconnected middle of bill period), it is handled the same as it is today. This new setting does not apply to usage related tier units (minutes and number of units).

5. Click Next. This displays the Originating Locations window.

Locations

Locations lists the Originating and Terminating locations that can be used to set up your discount.

1. Select New to add a Originating Location or select Edit to modify an existing entry, if you are modifying a pre-configured discount.

2. To delete an entry, select a Location Type from the list and click Delete.

   d text message is displayed until the fields are modified.

3. Choose a Location Type from the drop-down list and enter the corresponding location information. Click OK.

   OR

4. Select a Location Type from the list that is displayed, if applicable.

5. Click Next. This displays the Terminating Locations window.

   

6. Select New to add a Terminating Location or select Edit to modify an existing entry, if you are modifying a pre-configured discount.

7. To delete an entry, select a Location Type from the list and click Delete.

   

   Note

   A red text message is displayed until the fields are modified.

8. Choose a Location Type from the drop-down list and enter the corresponding location information. Click OK.

   OR

9. Select a Location Type from the list that is displayed, if applicable.

10. Click Next. This displays the Time of Day window.

Time of Day

Time of Day lets you apply a discount to a particular time of day. The choices are All or Day, Evening, and Night.

1. Select the appropriate Contributing Time of Day check box(es) or click Select All to check all the check boxes. (Clear clears all of the check boxes.)

2. Click Next. This displays the Ignore calls with zero charges window.

   

3. Check the Calls with zero charges do not apply to contributing check box if you wish to ignore calls with charges that are rated to zero and/or previously discounted to zero.

4. Click Next. This displays the Volume Units window.

Volume Units

Volume Units are used for measuring usage. The available choices are Number of Calls, Minutes, and Currency. Volume Units are available if you do not check the Is Loyalty Discount? check box.

1. Select a Volume Unit from the drop-down list. This displays the Amount Type window.

   Note

   When Is Loyalty Discount? is checked, a Loyalty Units drop-down list is provided instead of the Volume Units drop-down list. As a result, the available loyalty unit choices are Days, Weeks, Months, and Years. The IDI platform uses either the customer's established date or assignment date and the expected bill date to determine the length of the loyalty discount.

   Note

   If this is a Tiered Group Discount, the Volume Units is pre-populated with "Active Services and cannot be changed.

Amount Types

Amount Type enables you to set your discount as a calculated percentage of the applicable charges or a fixed amount specified in the plan.

1. Select an Amount Type - Percentage or Constant Amount.

   When you select the Constant Amount radial button, the Prorate Constant Amount setting will be available. This setting only works with product charges and constant amounts. Note: Full month and partial month discount amounts will be rolled into a total amount that is displayed per service line on the invoice.

   When there are multiple eligible products being prorated, the system will determine which one has the highest percentage and apply that amount across all prorated eligible products. This prevents those eligible products from accruing a higher discount amount than the full constant amount.

   

2. Click Next. This displays the Tier Type window.

Tier Types

Discount Tier Levels enable you to specify the range of usage to be used to calculate your discount. The fields that are displayed depend on the Tier Type that you choose.

Tier Type specifies how the IDI platform determines the level of discount to apply. The three choices are Flat, Single, and Rolling.

Notes:

• Eligible Factors do not apply to Rolling tiers.

• Products do not contribute to minutes-based discounts.

• Tiered Group Discounts cannot have a Tier Type of Rolling.

  

1. Select a Tier Type and click Next. This displays the Tier Levels window for that tier type.

   Note

   The tier information is entered into the Discount Tier Levels table.

Flat Tier Type

A Flat Tier Type has only one level and is used to create a flat rate discount. This tier type tells the IDI platform how much of a discount (percentage or currency) to apply. You would use this type to create a flat discount of 5% for all the factors that you selected, such as those selected in Usage Types, Service Types, Distance Types, Products, and Locations.

1. If you selected Constant Amount on the Amount Type window, enter a dollar amount. Otherwise, enter a percentage.

   Note

   The percentage value should be entered in decimal format.

2. Click Next.

   

3. Click Next. This displays the last window in the discount configuration.

4. Click Finish to save the configuration or click Back to make changes.

Single Tier Type

A Single Tier Type can have as many tier levels as you want to create. The discount is based on the total number of units and is determined by the tier level that corresponds to the number of units used. For each tier level, you define the End Range (the number of units at which that tier ends) and the Amount (Percent or Currency, depending upon the Amount Type selected for this discount) of the discount for this tier.

Example: You set up Tier 1 as 1-10 minutes at 10% discount, Tier 2 as 10-15 minutes at 15% discount, and Tier 3 as 15-99999 minutes at 20% discount. The customer uses 12 minutes, therefore, the customer receives a 15% discount on all of the eligible minutes.

Discount tier levels are used to set up the various percentages to create the discounts.

1. Click Next. This displays the last window in the discount configuration.

2. Click Finish to save the configuration or click Back to make changes.

Rolling Tier Type

A Rolling Tier Type can also have as many tier levels as you want to create. The discount is calculated using each tier level and adding the resulting discounts together. For each tier level, you define the End Range (the number of units at which that tier ends) and the Amount (Percent) of the discount for that tier. The tier's begin and end ranges are based upon the tier units you selected - Currency or Minutes.

Notes:

• Eligible Factors do not apply to Rolling tiers.

• Tiered Group Discounts cannot have a Tier Type of Rolling.

  Example: You set up Tier 1 as $1-$10 at 10% discount, Tier 2 as $10-$15 at 15% discount, and Tier 3 as $15-$99999 at 20% discount. The customer uses $14 worth of usage, therefore, the customer receives a 10% discount on the 1st $10, PLUS a 15% discount on the next $4.

  The Volume Units you specified in the Tier Units window dictates which units to count towards the discount.

  

  Discount tier levels are used to set up the various percentages to create the discounts.

  End Range	Enter the ending number of units (call, minute, or dollar amount). Note If this tier is not the first tier for this discount, you must enter a value that is greater than the value you specified in the End Range for the previous tier.
  Amount	If you selected Percentage as an Amount Type, enter the decimal value of the discount. If you selected Constant Amount as an Amount Type, enter that amount.

1. Click Next. This displays the last window in the discount configuration.

2. Click Finish to save the configuration or click Back to make changes.

Adding Tiers

You can add a tier by clicking Add on any of the tier type windows.

Note

The fields on the New Tier window vary, depending upon whether you selected Constant Amount or Percentage as the Amount Type in the Amount Type window.

Processing Order

An account or service may have several discounts applied. In this case you need to establish the order in which the discounts are applied.

The New Discount window has a Processing Order field to let you set the processing order when you add a new discount to the Product Catalog.

The Discount Processing Order window lets you set the processing order for any discount on-the-fly.